Gas laser materials and system therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides gas laser materials and a laser system utilizing them to produce laser emissions in the far infrared region between 300 microns and 1,000 microns. Specific materials are selected from the methane and ethane group useful in combination with nitrogen to provide active laser media.

United States Patent Staisudd et a].

[ 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] GAS LASER MATERIALS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR [72]inventors: Oscar M. Stafsudd; Frederik A.

Haak, both of Boston, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City, Calif.

[22] Filed: March 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 121,586

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 734,778, June5,

1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..331/94.5 [51 Int. Cl ..H01s 3/22 [58] Field of Search..331/94.5

[56] References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS Mathias et al., ElectronicsLetters, vol. 1, no. 2, April, 1965, pp. 45- 46.

Gerritsen, Physics of Quantum Electronics, (Conf. Proc.), McGraw-HillNew York, Jan. 26, 1966, pp. 581- 590.

Flesher, Proc. IEEE, vol. 54, no. 4, April 1966, pp. 543- 546.

Miiller et al., (May 1, 1966), Applied Physics Letters, vol. 8, no. 9,May 1, 1966, pp. 217- 218. Miiller et 31., (Feb. 1, 1967) AppliedPhysics Letters, 10(3), Feb. 1, 1967, pp. 93- 94.

Lide, Jr. et al., Applied Physics Letters," vol. 11, no. 12, July 15,1967, pp. 62- 64.

Primary Examiner-William L. Sikes Assistant Examiner-R. J. WebsterAttorney-Wm. H. MacAllister, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The present invention provides gas laser materials and alaser system utilizing them to produce laser emissions in the farinfrared region between 300 microns and 1,000 microns. Specificmaterials are selected from the methane and ethane group useful incombination with nitrogen to provide active laser media.

32 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures GAS LASER MATERIALS AND SYSTEM THEREFORThis application is a continuation of Ser. No. 734,778 filed June 5,1968, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to gas laser materials and a systemtherefor for producing laser emissions in the far infrared regionbetween 300 microns and 1,000 microns. In particular, the gas lasermaterials of the present invention encompass materials selected from themethane and ethane group useful in combination with nitrogen to providea laser system.

Stimulated emission has been obtained from various organic compounds,such as hydrocyanic acid, methyl cyanide, and ethyl cyanide, whensubjected to pulsed electrical discharges. In such work, the activespecies was identified as the CN radical.

The present invention departs from the above identification of activespecies in that the active species is of the form H CN or D CN where x 2l, as indicated by experimentation. Since the term CN laser has becomeaccepted terminology in the art to describe such laser systems, thisterm will be employed hereafter for the sake of convenience despite thefact that it is a misnomer. Acetonitrile (CH CN) was compared with thedeuterated compound CD CN. Separate experiments with both compoundsproduced stimulated emission with about the same output power but withdifferent wavelengths. Cl-l CN was found to produce stimulated emissionat all the normal wavelengths associated with the so-called CN laser. CDCN was found to produce stimulated emission at a different set ofwavelengths and none at the normal so-called CN wavelengths. In afurther experiment, nitrogen gas was admitted into a laser cavityutilizing graphite electrodes and an electrical discharge was used toexcite the system. No laser action was produced although a strong redcolor, which is associated with the CN radial, was obtained. When smallamounts of hydrogen were added to the discharge, strong stimulatedemission was produced at the normal CN wavelengths, carbon beingsupplied from the graphite electrodes. The use of hydrogen withoutnitrogen produce no stimulated emission. When deuterium gas wassubstituted for hydrogen in the above experiments, stimulated emissionwas observed at the same wavelengths associated with CD CN. The presentinvention, therefore, relates to a laser material whose active speciesare I-I CN and D,CN which is selected from the group consisting ofnormal or deuterated methane, ethane, butane, and propane, normal ordeuterated methyl, ethyl, N-propyl, and N-butyl ethers, of the elementalform of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen and of the elemental form ofnitrogen, carbon and deuterium. To this, a free nitrogen gas must beadded in order to obtain the active species.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a familyof new gas laser materials.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a systemutilizing such new gas laser materials.

Other aims and objects, as well as a more complete understanding of thepresent invention, will appear from the following explanation ofexemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic view of a gas discharge tube utilized to producelaser action from the gas laser materials of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graph depicting laser output in a methanenitrogen system interms of power applied versus methane and nitrogen pressure; and

FIG. 3 is a graph of an ethyl ether-nitrogen system in terms of powerversus methyl ether and nitrogen pressure.

Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 1, a gas laser system 10 comprises atube 12 of pyrex glass or other heat resistance material having a gasinlet 14 and a gas outlet 16. A gas supply 18 is connected by inlet 14to tube 12 by means of a metering valve 20. Outlet 16 is connected to avacuum pump 22 for exhaust of gas from the tube.

An electrode means, comprising a pair of cathodes 24 and an anode 26, isconnected to a power supply 28 for production of an electrical dischargewithin the tube. Although FIG. 1 depicts the electrode to be at the endsof the tube and the anode to be in the center of the tube, it ispossible to place anodes at both ends and a cathode in the center;however, the illustrated arrangement is preferred since this arrangementenables the anode-cathode means to have longer life than in thealternate arrangement. It is also possible to utilize only one anode andone cathode, placed at opposite ends of the tube, although this furtherarrangement would require a higher voltage rating in power supply 28.The electrodes may be constructed of any suitable material such asstainless steel and graphite. Graphite is essential when the lasersystem utilizes elemental nitrogen and hydrogen.

A movable concave mirror 30 is placed at one end of tube 12 while a flatmirror 32 is placed at the opposite end of the tube. Mirror 30 ismovable as depicted by double headed arrow 34 in order to preciselyadjust the effective length 35 of the tube. Flat mirror 32 is providedwith a small hole 36 so that the laser waves may exit from the tube asdepicted by lines 38. The laser beam is detected by a detector 40. Tube12 is preferably water cooled in order to maintain the temperature ofthe apparatus at acceptable levels.

Mirror 30 preferably has a gold reflecting surface and its curvature issuch that its focal length is approximately that of the tube. It is inpart for this reason that the curved mirror is adjustable. The diameterof tube 12 varies from 2 to 6 inches in order that mirror 30 may be ableto function properly in reflecting the laser beam without diffractionlosses. Hole 36 is approximately 1 millimeter and is placed centrally ofmirror 32.

In operation, gas is caused to flow into tube 12 from supply 18 and isexhausted therefrom by pump 22. At the same time, power supply 28provides a specified wattage to produce continuous wave laser action inthe gasses within the tube and a specified level of joules for pulsedaction, as is well-known in the art.

In the below discussion, the tube utilized was 2 meters long andapproximately 8 centimeters in diameter. The curved mirror had a goldreflecting surface and the exit hole was approximately I millimeter indiameter. The tube was water jacketed and was provided with threeelectrodes with the discharge distance between theouter electrodes beingapproximately centimeters. The focal length of the spherical mirror was250 centimeters 2.5 centimeters and the average separation betweenmirrors was 243 centimeters i1 centimeter. The cathodes were ofstainless steel and were forced-air cooled.

When methane was used as a gas in combination with nitrogen, laser at337 microns, 31 1 microns, 291 microns, and 281 microns were observed.The strongest line was at 337 microns. As shown in FIG. 2, a nitrogenpressure of 2.0 millimeters Hg, as indicated by line 50, the peak outputoccurred at approximately 57 millivolts at a pressure of approximately1.6 to 1.9 millimeters Hg of methane. Greater and lesser methanepressures produced laser outputs at correspondingly lower power inputs.Similar analyses were obtained for nitrogen pressures at 2.5 millimetersHg (curve 52), 1.5 millimeters Hg nitrogen (curve 54), 1.0 mm Hg ofnitrogen (curve 56), and 0.5 mm Hg of nitrogen (curve 58).

The various curves for ethyl ether in terms of power output versuspressure under pulsed and direct current discharge conditions isdepicted in FIG. 3. The same laser lines were obtained as for themethane system. Curves 60, 62, and 64 resulted from different pressuresof nitrogen, respectively, at 0.5 mm Hg, 1.0 mm Hg, and 1.5 mm Hg.

The chart of these two gasses as well as other gasses list the followingparameters and results, as follows:

The carbon was obtained from graphite electrodes and elemental hydrogenor deuterium, and nitrogen were used.

The methane-nitrogen system of the present invention, in particular,operates in an almost completely clean manner with little formation ofcarbon compound reaction deposits on the tube surface. In addition, veryhigh powers were obtained, in the order of twice that of any othersystem presently known. Peak powers of approximately 100 watts wereobtained on a pulsed basis. The other laser materials of the presentinvention deposit greater amounts of carbon reaction compounds as theydepart further from methane or methyl ether.

The use of water vapor also helps to clean the tube by reacting withsome of the gaseous materials which are driven out by the vacuum pump.It was further found that the greater the flow rate of gasses throughthe tube, the better the output power became; however, an upper limitwas found since, if the flow rate were too great, the gases would notremain within the tube a sufficiently long time before they producedlaser action.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A laser material consisting of the group selected from:

a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated methane;

b. nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected fromnormal and deuterated hydrogen; and

c. one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 1) wherein the H C and the D C areselected from the nonnal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propylether, and N-butyl ether.

2. A laser material as in claim 1 wherein said H CN gas is provided withexcess free nitrogen.

3. A laser material as in claim 2 wherein the pressure of free nitrogenranges from approximately 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters mercury.

4. A laser system comprising a laser material a sealed tube providedwith electrode means including at least one cathode and one anode andwith reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube forstimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said laser materiala power supply connected to said electrode means for coupling energy tosaid electrodes for creating a p0pulation inversion in said lasermaterial, said laser material consisting of the group selected from;

a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated methane;

b. nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected fromnormal and deuterated hydrogen; and

c. one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 1) wherein the H ,C and the D G areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, isopropylether, and N-butyl ether.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said H CN gas is provided with excessfree nitrogen.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein laser lines of 291 microns, 281microns, and 337 microns are obtained when 800 to 1,000 watts of powerfrom said supply is supplied to said electrode means and when thepressure of said free nitrogen ranges from approximately 0.5 to 2.5millimeters.

7. A system as in claim 5 further including gas supply means connectedto one end of said tube and pump means connected to the other end ofsaid tube, said pump means pumping said gasses at a rate of flow toremove tube degrading reaction gasses and to enable laser action.

8. A system as in claim 4 wherein said electrode means consists ofgraphite to provide the elemental carbon when said normal and deuteratedgroup consists of the combination of elemental carbon and hydrogen.

9. A laser material consisting of nitrogen gas and one of the groupselected from normal and deuterated methane. I

10. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (x a 1)wherein the H,,C and the D C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated ethane.

11. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1)wherein the H, C and the D C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated butane.

12. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (.2: 2 1)wherein the H C and the D C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated propane.

13. A laser material comprising one of H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1) whereinthe H C and the D C are selected from the group consisting of normal anddeuterated methyl ether.

14. A laser material one of an H ,CN and D CN gas (x 2 1) wherein the HC and the D C are selected from the group consisting of normal anddeuterated ethyl ether.

15. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1)wherein the t e and the D,,C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated N-propyl ether.

16. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1)wherein the H C and the D C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated iso-propyl ether.

17. A laser material comprising one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1)wherein the H,C and the D C are selected from the group consisting ofnormal and deuterated N-butyl ether.

18. A laser material consisting of the combination of nitrogen gas,elemental carbon, and the group selected from normal and deuteratedhydrogen.

19. A laser material consisting of the group selected from:

a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated methane; and

b. one of an H CN and D CN gas (x B 1) wherein the H C and the D C areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propylether, and N-butyl ether.

20. A laser system comprising a laser material, a sealed tube providedwith electrode means including at least one cathode and one anode andwith reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube forstimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said laser material,a power supply connected to said electrode means for coupling energy tosaid electrodes for creating a population inversion in said lasermaterial, said laser material consisting of the group selected from:

a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated methane; and

b. one of an H CN and D CN gas (1: 2 1) wherein the H,C and the D C areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, isol-propylether, and N-butyl ether.

21. A laser material consisting of the group selected from:

a. nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected fromnormal and deuterated hydrogen; and

b. one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1) wherein the H C and the D e areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,bu-

tane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propylether, and N-butyl ether.

22. A laser system comprising a laser material, a

sealed tube provided with electrode means including at leas t onecathode and one anpdeand with reflectors positioned ad acent the ends 0said tube or stimulating the emission of coherent radiation from saidlaser material, a power supply connected to said electrode means forcoupling energy to said electrodes for creating a population inversionin said laser material, said laser material consisting of the groupselected from:

a. nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected fromnormal and deuterated hydrogen; and

b. one of an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1) wherein the H C and the D C areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propylether, and N-butyl ether.

23. A laser material consisting of the group selected from one of an HCN and D CN gas (x 2 1) wherein the H C and the D C are selected fromthe normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane, butane,propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, isopropyl ether, andN-butyl ether.

24. A laser system comprising a laser material, a sealed tube providedwith electrode means including at least one cathode and one anode andwith reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube forstimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said laser material,a power supply connected to said electrode means for coupling energy tosaid electrodes for creating a population inversion in said lasermaterial, said laser material consisting of the group selected from oneof an H CN and D CN gas (x 2 1) wherein the H C and the D C are selectedfrom the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane, butane,propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, isopropyl ether, andN-butyl ether.

25. A laser material as in claim 10 wherein the N of the H CN and D CNgas consists of nitrogen gas.

26. A laser material as in claim 11 wherein the N of the H CN and D CNgas consists of nitrogen gas.

27. A laser material as in claim 12 wherein the N of the H CN and D CNgas consists of nitrogen gas.

28. A laser material as in claim 13 wherein the N of the H ,CN and the DCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.

29. A laser material as in claim 14 wherein the N of the H CN and D CNgas consists of nitrogen gas.

30. A laser material as in claim 15 wherein the N of the H CN gasconsists of nitrogen gas.

31. A laser material as in claim 16 wherein the N of the H CN and the DCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.

32. A laser material as in claim 17 wherein the N of the H CN and D CNconsists of nitrogen gas.

G Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No-jfZOl ,O +6 Dated October 24. 1972 Inventor(s) Oscar M.Stafsudd et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line- 37, "radial" should' read --radical--;

line 42, "produce" should read -produced-. Column 2 line 9 "resistance"should read resistant--. Column 3, line 2, after "laser" insert --lines;line 26, "Input" and"0utput" should read Input and --Output; (watts)(mw) line 31, "337,3ll,28l,28l C" should read --337,3ll, 29l,28l--;

line 32, (C H O+N should read (C H O+N line 53, "driven" should readdrawn; line 67, "consisting of" should read selected from-- 1ines66"1 dfh ld f V and 57' se ecte rom s ou read consisting o Column 4, line 17,after "a laser material" insert a comma line 21, after "said lasermaterial" insert a comma line 26, "consisting of" should read selectedfrom-- "selected from" should read consisting of- O line 36, "isopropyl"should read --'-isopropyl--;

- llnes 57 "one of" should read a member selected fromand "selectedfrom" should read consisting of-. Column 5, line 9 after "material"insert comprising;

line 26, after and" insert a member selected from- 0 llnes 26 "selectedfrom" should read consisting of and 27,

line 28, "consisting of" should read selected from-- lines 28 n i and 29selected from should read consisting of line 45, "consisting of" shouldread selected from "selected from should read consisting of--;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5,701 ,oua Dated October 2Q, 1972Inventor s Oscar M. Stafsudd et 31.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

llne O -p Opyl" should read --isopropyl--;

Q line 53, "consisting of" should read -selected fromlines 53 I and 54,"selected from" should read consisting of--.

Column 6, line 13, "consisting of" should read -selected from--"selected from" should read -consisting ofline 22 "consisting of" shouldread selected from-- 223 5 "selected from" should read -consisting of- Iline 36 "consisting of" should read -selected from-- "selected from"should read -consisting ofline 53, after "H CN" insert --and D CN--; Qline 57, after "D CN" insert -gas-.

This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued September25, 975.

Signal and Scaled this Thirteenth Day Of September 1977 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON I LUTRELLE F. PARKER Attesting Officer Acting Commissionerof Patents and Trademarks

2. A laser material as in claim 1 wherein said HxCN gas is provided withexcess free nitrogen.
 3. A laser material as in claim 2 wherein thepressure of free nitrogen ranges from approximately 0.5 to 2.5millimeters mercury.
 4. A laser system comprising a laser material asealed tube provided with electrode means including at least one cathodeand one anode and with reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of saidtube for stimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said lasermaterial a power supply connected to said electrode means for couplingenergy to said electrodes for creating a population inversion in saidlaser material, said laser material consisting of the group selectedfrom; a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated methane; b. nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and one of thesubgroup selected from normal and deuterated hydrogen; and c. one of anHxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selectedfrom the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane, butane,propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, isopropyl ether, andN-butyl ether.
 5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said HxCN gas isprovided with excess free nitrogen.
 6. A system as in claim 5 whereinlaser lines of 291 microns, 281 microns, and 337 microns are obtainedwhen 800 to 1,000 watts of power from said supply is supplied to saidelectrode means and when the pressure of said free nitrogen ranges fromapproximately 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters.
 7. A system as in claim 5 furtherincluding gas supply means connected to one end of said tube and pumpmeans connected to the other end of said tube, said pump means pumpingsaid gasses at a rate of flow to remove tube degrading reaction gassesand to enable laser action.
 8. A system as in claim 4 wherein saidelectrode means consists of graphite to provide the elemental carbonwhen said normal and deuterated group consists of the combination ofelemental carbon and hydrogen.
 9. A laser material consisting ofnitrogen gas and one of the group selected from normal and deuteratedmethane.
 10. A laser material comprising one of an HxCN and DxCN gas(x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from the groupconsisting of normal and deuterated ethane.
 11. A laser materialcomprising one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the Hx C andthe DxC are selected from the group consisting of normal and deuteratedbutane.
 12. A laser material comprising one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x >or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from the groupconsisting of normal and deuterated propane.
 13. A laser materialcomprising one of HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and theDxC are selected from the group consisting of normal and deuteratedmethyl ether.
 14. A laser material one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or= 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from the group consistingof normal and deuterated ethyl ether.
 15. A laser material comprisingone of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC areselected from the groUp consisting of normal and deuterated N-propylether.
 16. A laser material comprising one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x >or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from the groupconsisting of normal and deuterated iso-propyl ether.
 17. A lasermaterial comprising one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein theHxC and the DxC are selected from the group consisting of normal anddeuterated N-butyl ether.
 18. A laser material consisting of thecombination of nitrogen gas, elemental carbon, and the group selectedfrom normal and deuterated hydrogen.
 19. A laser material consisting ofthe group selected from: a. nitrogen gas and one of the subgroupselected from normal and deuterated methane; and b. one of an HxCN andDxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from thenormal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane, butane, propane,methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propyl ether, and N-butylether.
 20. A laser system comprising a laser material, a sealed tubeprovided with electrode means including at least one cathode and oneanode and with reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube forstimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said laser material,a power supply connected to said electrode means for coupling energy tosaid electrodes for creating a population inversion in said lasermaterial, said laser material consisting of the group selected from: a.nitrogen gas and one of the subgroup selected from normal and deuteratedmethane; and b. one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxCand the DxC are selected from the normal and deuterated subgroupconsisting of ethane, butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether,N-propyl ether, iso1-propyl ether, and N-butyl ether.
 21. A lasermaterial consisting of the group selected from: a. nitrogen gas,elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated hydrogen; and b. one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1)wherein the HxC and the Dxc are selected from the normal and deuteratedsubgroup consisting of ethane, butane, propane, methyl ether, ethylether, N-propyl ether, iso-propyl ether, and N-butyl ether.
 22. A lasersystem comprising a laser material, a sealed tube provided withelectrode means including at least one cathode and one anode and withreflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube for stimulating theemission of coherent radiation from said laser material, a power supplyconnected to said electrode means for coupling energy to said electrodesfor creating a population inversion in said laser material, said lasermaterial consisting of the group selected from: a. nitrogen gas,elemental carbon, and one of the subgroup selected from normal anddeuterated hydrogen; and b. one of an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1)wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from the normal and deuteratedsubgroup consisting of ethane, butane, propane, methyl ether, ethylether, N-propyl ether, iso-propyl ether, and N-butyl ether.
 23. A lasermaterial consisting of the group selected from one of an HxCN and DxCNgas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC are selected from thenormal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane, butane, propane,methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propyl ether, and N-butylether.
 24. A laser system comprising a laser material, a sealed tubeprovided with electrode means including at least one cathode and oneanode and with reflectors positioned adjacent the ends of said tube forstimulating the emission of coherent radiation from said laser materiaL,a power supply connected to said electrode means for coupling energy tosaid electrodes for creating a population inversion in said lasermaterial, said laser material consisting of the group selected from oneof an HxCN and DxCN gas (x > or = 1) wherein the HxC and the DxC areselected from the normal and deuterated subgroup consisting of ethane,butane, propane, methyl ether, ethyl ether, N-propyl ether, iso-propylether, and N-butyl ether.
 25. A laser material as in claim 10 whereinthe N of the HxCN and DxCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.
 26. A lasermaterial as in claim 11 wherein the N of the HxCN and DxCN gas consistsof nitrogen gas.
 27. A laser material as in claim 12 wherein the N ofthe HxCN and DxCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.
 28. A laser material asin claim 13 wherein the N of the HxCN and the DxCN gas consists ofnitrogen gas.
 29. A laser material as in claim 14 wherein the N of theHxCN and DxCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.
 30. A laser material as inclaim 15 wherein the N of the HxCN gas consists of nitrogen gas.
 31. Alaser material as in claim 16 wherein the N of the HxCN and the DxCN gasconsists of nitrogen gas.
 32. A laser material as in claim 17 whereinthe N of the HxCN and DxCN consists of nitrogen gas.